Monday, 15th April, 2019

The last novel was about worst thing I've ever read. I don't think I'll waste any more time reading this series (and I'd read the entirety up to this point). Simply so many other things to read that's actually worth my time.
Thanks for the update.

Sunday, 8th July, 2018

My guess is that WoTC didn't submit anything, since they have been snubbing GenCon for a few years now.
The WOTC team often comes though--they just hang out and run games rather than having an official presence.

Tuesday, 6th March, 2018

How? Where?
Are you just talking about this, that has been available since the beginning?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-magazine/id981727811?mt=8
I’ve had the app for ages. But the latest issue prompted me to subscribe and took me to the iTunes Store somewhere and now I can’t find it. Buy in “about this app” there is a renew subscription button

Tuesday, 6th February, 2018

As I explore the alternatives more, the more I get exceedingly bored with what WoTC is releasing.
I'll buy it. And read it. But I'm starting to feel like it's a waste of my time and money and starting to regret giving them the sales.
So what are you looking for? A great thing with 5e is that you don't have rely on WotC, but personally this the most interested I have been in a WotC book since VGtM. I bought all of the books at first, but I didn't get Strahd, SKT or XGtE. I had felt my interest in WotC products waning (I did buy ToA), but this one has me interested again. I really love the format with about half the book on the lore of some creatures, settings, etc. and the other half new stat blocks. I could buy one of these every year easy. I much prefer this format of monster book to the typical MM or bestiary (better than teh MM or FeF or ToB in my book).

Friday, 17th November, 2017

And, too bad they have a skewed view of the real game. By real, I mean actually playing with real friends, who aren't a bunch of actors with producers and sound guys.
You realize several of them were friends for years before the podcast?
And the game was a private thing for two years before the show?
Now, for the dozen wanna-be that are springing up around them, with groups of small-time actors that never gamed before, you have a point.

And, too bad they have a skewed view of the real game. By real, I mean actually playing with real friends, who aren't a bunch of actors with producers and sound guys.
I know, I'm jealous about it as well.

I don't know if it was added after this review, but on the product page it says:
It was added later, after I sent the publisher an advanced copy of the review. As far as I'm aware the product itself wasn't changed.
Probably needless to say, but I think if you have either a decent amount of experience running high level games, or as a DM are willing to taper things a bit, for less experienced characters; the "big idea" of this adventure has potential. The author admits that players not familiar with running 20th level characters is a bit of a hurdle, by suggesting they have a night of prep to study their characters.
Since I'm usually in the DM chair, I look at it as a DM... And I'd certainly would only recommend this product to either DMs with a lot of experience or DMs that are very good on the fly (or at winging it).
Note: I believe, use of the word "Lassitude," is a typo and should be: "Latitude."

Monday, 2nd October, 2017

Anyone who plays videos games knows pre-order bonuses for those willing to pay in advance of product launch. WotC's official toolset, D&D Beyond, is adopting this practice with 16 bonus feats exclusive to those who pre-order Xanathar's Guide to Everything on D&D Beyond.
89175
Here's what they're offering:
We're excited to announce the bonuses you will receive for pre-ordering Xanathar's Guide to Everything on D&D Beyond:
Expanded Racial Feats
You'll get access to 16 new racial feats for all the races available on D&D Beyond outside the Player's Handbook - from the aaracokra to the yuan-ti pureblood. Created by the D&D Beyond team, these feats can be used in your home games or as inspiration for your own upcoming homebrew racial feats.
Digital Character Sheet Customization
Get access to new digital character sheet image backgrounds and portrait frame options from artwork in Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
Alpha Access to the D&D Beyond Mobile App
Get early alpha access to the D&D Beyond mo...

Sunday, 24th September, 2017

I HIGHLY doubt that they'll give this to users who've bought their products (multiple times) free, or deeply discounted... and, yet again, you're paying for a subscription product dependent on that service staying in existence; not owning a PDF that you can keep forever. I dislike pathfinder, but see Paizo for a fair way to do this.
Digital is ephemeral. I don't even understand this idea that PDFs are "forever". I've lost countless PDFs and expect to lose countless more before I die. And for sure my kid won't inherent my PDF "collection". Whatever is left of them at the end of my life will die with me. Only my physical books are likely to last a long time. So what is this "PDFs will last FOREVER!" stuff about? PDFs are only roughly 20 years old as a technology anyway. If I really care about having stuff long term, I buy a hard copy.
By the way I still have some apps I bought using my Palm Treo from 2002. Including reader apps with content. The device continues to fire up and be usable f...

Wednesday, 19th July, 2017

I'm super disappointed in what they call "campaign management". Unless they have something in the works that I haven't seen, you may as well forget that entire feature.
Yes, they've repeatedly said that campaign management is bare bones at the moment and will be expanded upon. The entire site is also still in beta at the moment.
Teenagers, because they either have no strong sense of self or because they feel they need the new popular thing to fit in and not get bullied or be stuck on the outside.
My point exactly.

Why am I feeling some Deja Vu from my experience with the release of Sword Coast Legends... super hyped until finally seeing it...
I'm having the opposite reaction. I pre-bought SCL and still haven't played through more than a couple of hours of it. Almost a month into watching the development cycle, after having pre-bought it, I knew it was going to be utter crap. This, I was very skeptical about it and highly critical of it but the devs have proven to me that they're capable and I'm quite happy with how things are developing.

Monday, 19th June, 2017

And, why am I supposed to take "Matt Mercer and Marisha Ray" (whoever they are) as a definitive source for pronunciation? I assume these are online celebrities, so how does this clear up the pronunciation of classic monsters such as ixitxachitl or Blibdoolpoolp?
How do you pronounce Blibdoolpoolp?
Some advice from a player who did so in her presence- CORRECTLY! :p

I'll give an allegorical answer:
It's Father's day today. My little brother and I visited our 85 year old grandpa and a super cool, but unhealthy uncle. When I dropped off my brother afterwards, he said something like "I'm glad we got around to visiting those guys. I'm moving in a month to start post-doc training. Who knows if I'll ever get to see them again or hear that crazy ass story Grandpa always tells?" All I could say, was "Ya. Me too!"
If that doesn't make sense, then we're simply not on the same wavelength. It's really not as big a deal as I'm making it, but something just struck a nerve with me and the above is the best I can explain it.
My son and I were players in Tower of Gygax and had the privilege of playing for each of them at their turn DMing. We were in the first TPK of that con in the Alamo encounter. I shook both their hands and thanked them from the bottom of my heart.
I still don't understand how anyone could be annoyed. It isn't a slight to either of them. Hiri...

Sunday, 18th June, 2017

Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% excited about DDB, I just found this a little more than annoying.
Yeah, to repeat darjr... why?
WotC has produced several written pronunciation guides over the years (one written by Frank Mentzer). Why is having a professional voice actor read them a problem?

And, why am I supposed to take "Matt Mercer and Marisha Ray" (whoever they are) as a definitive source for pronunciation? I assume these are online celebrities, so how does this clear up the pronunciation of classic monsters such as ixitxachitl or Blibdoolpoolp?
Because presumably Wizards will tell them the correct pronunciation in order for them to record it.
Edit: Should have read the thread, point was already made. Sorry.

And, why am I supposed to take "Matt Mercer and Marisha Ray" (whoever they are) as a definitive source for pronunciation? I assume these are online celebrities, so how does this clear up the pronunciation of classic monsters such as ixitxachitl or Blibdoolpoolp?
They are voice actors, so my assumption is that they are simply providing the voices, and that the decisions on how things are pronounced are not happening with them. I haven't seen any specification on this, either way.

And, why am I supposed to take "Matt Mercer and Marisha Ray" (whoever they are) as a definitive source for pronunciation? I assume these are online celebrities, so how does this clear up the pronunciation of classic monsters such as ixitxachitl or Blibdoolpoolp?
That was my first thought too.
Here's an idea...call Frank Mentzer. Rob Kuntz, Tim Kask.